On 18 October, we celebrated this year’s cohort of hardworking graduates – and all of their fantastic achievements – at Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham.
You can read more about the ceremony here: Class of 2024 Celebrated at Graduation Ceremony
All photos are now available to view and purchase at the following link:
See below for a selection from this fantastic event – and congratulations again to our class of 2024!
University Campus Oldham’s Class of 2024 were celebrated at their Graduation Ceremony today (Friday 18th October) at Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham.
Following a procession through Oldham town centre, graduates and their friends and family were welcomed to the ceremony by Simon Jordan, Oldham College and University Campus Oldham’s Principal and Chief Executive.
He shared details of achievements from the past year – and wished our latest crop of the graduates the best of luck in their future endeavours.
The Ceremony also saw members of our community receive special awards.
Kay Miller, lifelong Oldham resident, received Honorary Fellowship for her years of dedication, service and support to the people of Oldham within the field of Health and Social Care.
Samantha Fletcher, who graduated with a first-class BSc Hons Psychology, received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Voice and the UCO Community.
Samantha’s work as a Student Representative had previously been acknowledged at the Sheffield Hallam University UK Partner Inspirational Student Awards 2024, where she won the Student Voice award – read more here.
Elizabeth Duffy, who graduated with a first-class BSc Hons Health and Social Care, also received an award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
Congratulations to all our 2024 graduates – we are incredibly proud of your accomplishments!
A photo gallery from the ceremony will follow.
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UCO celebrates strong student satisfaction in NSS results for 2024University Campus Oldham (UCO) is celebrating after its latest graduates rated it above the England sector average in every themed category of the National Student Survey (NSS) 2024.
UCO, the Higher Education provision of Oldham College, has been empowering thousands of students to unlock their potential and ambitions for almost a quarter of a century.
Partnering with globally recognised universities and institutions to deliver accredited qualifications at its town centre site, UCO prides itself on developing homegrown talent in a learning environment that is continually shaped by student feedback.
The latest independent NSS survey, overseen by the Office for Students, asks final year undergraduate students about the quality of their course across all publicly funded higher education institutions and further education colleges (FECs) across England.
The NSS 2024 results come from 27 questions – with theme scores then created by adding the positive responses rates of related questions – and are seen as the national benchmark of success.
UCO received positive responses higher than the England sector average this year for each of the seven category themes including teaching, academic support, organisation and management, plus student voice.
Compared to all other Greater Manchester FECs, UCO also scored highest for its’ Learning Opportunities (94.3 per cent), Assessment and Feedback (92.5 per cent) and Learning Resources (87.4 per cent).
Sue Holden, UCO’s Assistant Principal, HE and Higher Skills, said: “This is another superb set of NSS results and I want to thank all our students for their feedback and fantastic appreciation of what UCO has delivered for them.”
“Compared to last year’s survey, our student scores went up in five of the seven themed categories, which shows that we act on what these results tell us each year and have a strong culture of continuous improvement.
“It’s inspiring to see our student ratings make even further gains from an already high bar in terms of the support our staff provide across all courses. To again be scoring more than 90 per cent positive responses for our teaching, learning opportunities, academic support, assessment and feedback exemplifies the special community and learning environment we have at UCO.
“Our students enjoy an experience here which is truly distinctive and enables them to ‘Study Near and Go Far’. Smaller class sizes mean we can offer the kind of personalised support they might not get somewhere else and – regardless of students’ background and circumstances – our track record shows we can set them on the path to excellent outcomes.”
Since opening in 2005, UCO’s talent pipeline has seen thousands of students achieving their goals at Foundation Degree and full Honours Degree level in partnership with institutions that include Sheffield Hallam University, University of Central Lancashire, University of Huddersfield, the Open University, Pearson and the Chartered Management Institute.
Places are still available for courses starting in September 2024. The easiest way to find out more, or apply for a place, is to go direct to UCO either through the website at uco.oldham.ac.uk or by emailing the HE Admissions team at info@uco.oldham.ac.uk or calling 0161 344 8800.
Other NSS 2024 highlights for UCO included:
Further Information:
THE NSS 2024 RESULTS |
Each year, Sheffield Hallam recognises the achievements, hard work and enthusiasm of students taking courses at their partner institutions.
Our trailblazing trio recently picked up their awards in a ceremony at the Atrium and Hallam Hall in South Yorkshire and – as you can see – their stories are all about tenacity, dedication and making the most from their opportunity:
Despite being diagnosed with a severe medical condition during her first year and undergoing heart surgery, Libby has shown resilience in honouring her study commitments – handing in all assignments on time and attending regular tutorials.
Libby said: “My experience at Sheffield Hallam was amazing.”
“The atmosphere was lovely – everyone was kind and welcoming. The awards ceremony was a really special event.”
Fiza does outstanding work around mental health awareness in the local community. She works on placement at three different counselling charities and is involved in advocacy work: regularly speaking on panels and hosting workshops around the topic of mental health.
Fiza said: “It feels amazing to be recognised and rewarded for my work at UCO and in the community.”
“Hitting top marks after being out of education for 20 years, being invited to deliver workshops and lectures on mental health and providing emergency aid to the most vulnerable people in my community are just some of the things that have made this journey so incredible. I look forward to qualifying as a counsellor and taking my passion to help people to the next level!”
Samantha’s work as an enthusiastic, positive and approachable Student Representative for the past three years has ensured that underrepresented groups have a voice, and that services have improved campus-wide for all UCO students.
Samantha said the event was “truly memorable”: “”I wanted to express my gratitude for the wonderful experience and the opportunity to celebrate with so many inspiring students.”
Donna Sinclair, Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Psychology and Samantha’s tutor, said Samantha is “enthusiastic and positive at all times when dealing with members of staff and other students,” and “truly deserving of this award.”
Sue Holden, Assistant Principal HE and Higher Skills at UCO, said: “We’re all incredibly proud of Libby, Fiza and Samantha whose successes are testament to their personal dedication and determination to succeed.”
“These are the latest students whose achievements highlight the very different route to success that UCO offers on their doorsteps. Our staff take great pride in helping homegrown talents like this to flourish in a close-knit community with closer one-to-one and specialist support that empowers them to take a new direction and make the most of their undoubted potential.”
CONGRATULATIONS to Libby, Fiza and Samantha – and all the UCO community who helped in their success.
UCO graduate is Care Leaver Awards 2023 finalistThese awards, which took place at the Royal Northern College of Music, celebrate the achievements of care leavers across Greater Manchester.
Paige was joined by Laura Macmillan, Head of Student Support and Wellbeing at University Campus Oldham, and Alan Benvie, Vice Principal – Student Experience and Inclusion at Oldham College.
She was nominated for an award in the Higher Education category, for her achievements throughout completing a BA (Hons) Children and Young People as a care leaver. This included undertaking original research on the outcomes of care experienced young people in Greater Manchester, and ‘the politics of the postcode lottery that care leavers experience’.
“It felt great to be a finalist,” says Paige. “I wasn’t expecting to be nominated for the higher education award, as coming to University Campus Oldham was something I wanted to do for myself and saw as a personal achievement.”
Paige has previously attended these awards: in 2018, she won the Activism award for a range of achievements. This includes her work delivering Total Respect training within Oldham – which she has now done for 8 years, helping Oldham Council to set plans in motion for free prescription charges for care leavers, and helping with the pilot for NAAS training for social workers in Oldham, part of the Department for Education (DfE).
“I loved being at an event where everyone is the same, and we’re all celebrating achievement, which stereotypically would not always come to mind when you think of care leavers. It was great to see that we are a community in our own right, striving for better futures.”
Paige was inspired to study BA (Hons) Children and Young People by her existing knowledge surrounding the relevant laws and legislation.
“The course came with challenges, including my conflicting opinions about some of the theories we learned about, based on my personal experience.
“I did enjoy having discussions within sessions, and giving my classmates a true insight into what the care system is like for young people.”
As a professional, Paige is mindful of how young people feel when working with them. “I’m now a support worker, working with care leavers aged 16-18 in supported living accommodation. I absolutely love this job, and it’s rewarding to see changes being made daily.
“One day, I would love to run my own training program and work with authorities to support young people – so that everyone can have a voice, and help to hopefully change systems for the better.”
Paige’s advice to other care leavers considering higher education is, if a degree is going to help you progress and enable you to have the future you’ve dreamed of, “go for it! Dreams aren’t always easy, but at the end of the hard work, stress and worry, graduating will make it all worthwhile.”
The ‘Class of 2023’ came together at the Queen Elizabeth Hall to mark their personal academic success stories in studies completed earlier this year.
Each of the new alumni – decorated in a blaze of colours, caps and gowns – were hailed with applause as they were conferred a range of awards at Higher National Certificate/Diplomas, Foundation Degrees, full Honours Degrees, and postgraduate levels.
These 203 students are the latest to join a talent bank of thousands that have realised their ambitions at UCO, the higher education faculty of Oldham College.
Susan Holden, UCO Assistant Principal for Higher Education and Higher Skills, said: “This was a fantastic occasion that will live long in the memories of the ‘Class of 2023’, their family and friends.
“Our staff are immensely proud of all our graduates because they know these have all been special journeys where each success has been the culmination of personal challenges and dedication.
“UCO offers a different route to success on students’ doorsteps in a close-knit community that can give them all the flexibility and support they need to succeed. The most important yardstick of what we do is our students’ feedback, and this year’s group have confirmed just how much they value that unique environment we provide.”
This was the first UCO graduation overseen by Simon Jordan who became Oldham College’s Principal and Chief Executive in August.
He said: “I was blown away by this event – it was a fantastic celebration of the students’ determination to fulfil their potential, and the support network that helps to make that happen.”
“Each time one of our students improves their skills, qualification and finds a better job, they will also have a better life. That means they will also be good citizens who contribute positively to the local economy and communities. That’s why everyone in Oldham – from students to businesses and residents – can benefit from UCO.”
The ceremony also saw UCO award an honorary fellowship to Professor Lorna Unwin OBE FAcSS – an Oldham College governor – for her services to education, plus a certificate of recognition to local teenage fundraiser Ibrahim Yousaf BEM for his outstanding contribution to the local community.
This milestone event also capped a year of significant achievements for UCO as an institution.
Last month it was awarded TEF ‘Silver’ in the latest assessment of teaching and learning excellence at all higher education providers across England – and that came just weeks after the National Student Survey 2023 saw UCO rated above the sector average across all themed categories.
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UNIVERSITY Campus Oldham (UCO) has been awarded ‘Silver’ in the latest assessment of teaching and learning excellence at all higher education providers across England.
The results of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) published today (September 28) are designed to help inform students’ choices about what and where to study – and to incentivise improvement and excellence in teaching and learning.
TEF rates well-performing institutions from Gold to Bronze. Silver is awarded to those in which: “The student experience and outcomes are typically very high quality, and there may be some outstanding features”.
UCO, which is Oldham College’s higher education provision, was assessed by a judging panel which considered provider and student submissions, plus key student data over four years.
The TEF overall Silver verdict reflects their consideration of two main areas.
In ‘student experience’, they found all features to be “very high quality” and two – learner environment and academic support, plus student engagement in improvement – to be “outstanding”.
In ‘student outcomes’, TEF found UCO’s support for student success, continuation and completion rates and progression rates to all be “very high quality.”
Susan Holden, Assistant Principal HE & Higher Skills at UCO, said: “This TEF Silver rating is fabulous news and a real vindication for the hard work, dedication and shared ambitions of all our staff and students.”
“The assessment notes many positive strengths and highlights how UCO tailors and supports a diverse demographic of students to develop a wide range of knowledge and skills. They also found that we excel in personalising support to all learners’ needs and praised our attentiveness to students from all backgrounds, particularly underrepresented groups.
“Studying at UCO is a special experience in a close-knit and upbeat environment. We’re delighted that this rating gives our next generation of students confidence that their time here will help them to aspire to succeed and to fulfil their true potential.”
Simon Jordan, Oldham College Principal, added: “This is just the latest validation of the amazing work and student success stories being delivered at UCO.”
“Their curriculum development and design are mapped in line with a meticulous review of labour market intelligence to ensure that UCO’s course offer is meeting the skills needs of Oldham and the wider Greater Manchester City Region.
“Their dedicated staff are focussed on providing the pathways that local residents and students need to secure meaningful employment. The great student experiences and outcomes outlined in this TEF report shows how ambitious they are for the borough’s future.”
Find out more
UNIVERSITY Campus Oldham (UCO) is celebrating after its latest crop of graduates rated it above the sector average across all themed categories* of the National Student Survey (NSS) 2023.
The NSS, overseen by the Office for Students (OfS), is an independent survey asking final year undergraduate students’ opinions about a range of factors related to the quality of their course across all publicly funded higher education institutions (HEIs) and further education colleges (FECs) in England and Wales, and HEIs in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
It measures how positively a student feels through 27 questions – with experimental NSS theme scores then created by adding up the positive responses rates of related questions. More than 339,000 final year UK students gave views on their higher education experience in 2023 and these annual results are seen as the national benchmark of success.
UCO (the Higher Education provision of Oldham College) received positive theme responses higher than the sector average this year for its teaching, assessment and feedback, learning opportunities, academic support, organisation and management, learning resources and student voice.
Compared to all Greater Manchester FECs, UCO also got the highest positive responses to questions about its’ Learning Resources (88.8 per cent). This theme combines positive responses about its IT resources and facilities, library resources, plus the ease of access to subject specific resources**.
Sue Holden, UCO’s Assistant Principal, HE and Higher Skills, said: “This is a fantastic set of results – with a very high response rate of 85 per cent – and a wonderful endorsement of what UCO delivers for our students.”
“We really value their feedback because it gives us insight on how to improve each year, so it’s inspiring to see such positive responses about our academic experience and the support our staff provide across all courses.
“To score more than 90 per cent positive responses for our teaching, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback and academic support is superb and it shows how distinctive the experience we offer is for our students.
“UCO students enjoy a special community with a close-knit and supportive environment. Our smaller class sizes mean they get personalised support and help they might not get elsewhere and that can propel them to excellent outcomes, regardless of their background and circumstances.”
Other NSS 2023 highlights for UCO included:
A new question was added to this year’s NSS to explore freedom of expression. UCO had 88.8 per cent positive responses about students feeling free to express their opinions and beliefs during their studies – almost 3 per cent above sector average.
The NSS also asked students how well communicated information was about mental wellbeing support services. UCO scored a 97.5 per cent positive response on this – more than 22 per cent above the sector average.
Since opening in 2005, UCO has helped thousands of students to achieve their goals at both Foundation Degree and full Honours Degree level. It partners with globally recognised universities and institutions to deliver accredited qualifications at its town centre campus, including the Open University, Pearson, the Chartered Management Institute, University of Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam University and UCLan.
Places are still available for courses starting in September 2023. The easiest way to find out more, or apply for a place, is to go direct to UCO either through the website at uco.oldham.ac.uk or by emailing the HE Admissions team at info@uco.oldham.ac.uk or calling 0161 344 8800.
* A list showing the 27 NSS questions and their relation to the NSS experimental themes can be viewed here
** The national NSS survey results are available here.
Counselling student named as Inspirational IndividualA University Campus Oldham student has been recognised at the Sheffield Hallam University Inspirational Student Awards 2023.
Fateha Rahman, who studies FdSc Counselling & Psychotherapeutic Skills at University Campus Oldham, received an Inspirational Individual Award at the event.
She was nominated by her tutor, Neil Dickson, for her achievements in her time at UCO.
In the award submission, Neil described Fateha as having a ‘fantastic’ start as a trainee counsellor, highlighting that she has counselled ‘in multiple languages, providing much needed support for some of the most potentially vulnerable clients in society.’
Fateha’s impact has been wide-reaching: a client contacted one of her placement organisations to say that “although I am not back to my old self yet, she gave me the confidence to work things out. She was such a lovely person with a kind, caring nature. I am so grateful to her.”
By sharing experiences in class and being honest about her learning and development, while balancing a busy family life, Fateha has also been an inspiration to staff and students.
Fateha, pictured with Neil and her husband Mujibur at the awards, says: “I am humbled and grateful to receive this award, which serves as a testament to my dedication to the field of counselling. I am committed to continuing my growth and development as a counsellor, and I am excited to make a positive difference in the people I will work with.”
Neil says: “I’m so proud of Fateha and all of her fantastic efforts over the past two years. I get the sense that Fateha is going to have a very successful career within counselling, and I’m excited for the lifechanging work that she will be involved in.”
Congratulations Fateha!
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BIGGEST-EVER CROP OF GRADUATES ‘CAPS’ FANTASTIC YEAR AT UNIVERSITY CAMPUS OLDHAMTHE BIGGEST-ever crop of University Campus Oldham (UCO) students have celebrated their successes at an inspirational graduation ceremony.
Boasting 288 new alumni, these graduates formed a sea of caps, gaps and hoods alongside proud friends and family members at the Queen Elizabeth Hall*.
Most had either studied through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic – or seen their original graduation ceremonies postponed – before finally getting to join the ‘Class of 2022’.
Each student was greeted with rapturous applause as they strode onto the stage to officially accomplish their goals at Higher National Certificate/Diploma, Foundation Degree, full Honours Degree and Postgraduate levels.
They are just the latest in a pipeline of thousands of talented local students who have realised their academic ambitions at UCO since 2005 – with many more to follow.
Alun Francis OBE, Oldham College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “This event is about celebrating people who have done things differently.”
“They might have enrolled at UCO because the conventional route of going away to study a residential course at university didn’t work for them – or they needed to do things a bit later in life, or wanted a smaller environment with extra support that is based locally.
“It’s Oldham College’s essential mission to support people and businesses who want new opportunities and choice and UCO excels at offering an alternative route to obtain higher skills, knowledge and improving your prospects.
“Every time someone does that and finds a better job, they and their families will have a better life. All these success stories are students who earned their degrees through hard work and dedication and that contributes to improving the wider prospects of this borough.”
The Graduation Ceremony capped a fantastic year for UCO in which its National Students Survey results saw it ranked top across Greater Manchester for Overall Satisfaction**. UCO’s score of 89 per cent rated higher than all other regional FE colleges – and is 12.5 per cent above the HE sector average.
Amongst the learners graduating were Ian Kenworthy – who won the prestigious Association of College’s ‘Higher Education Student of the Year’ award for 2012/22.
Three Honorary Fellowships were also awarded at this ceremony to: Professor Richard Jones for services supporting education, skills, business innovation and the economy in Oldham; Donna McLaughlin for services to healthcare skills, education and business partnerships, and the wider economy of Oldham; and Professor Andrew Westwood for services to skills and the economy in Oldham through his central contribution to the Oldham Economic Review.
UCO has been Oldham College’s Higher Education provision since 2012. It partners with UK universities and industry leaders to deliver a range of courses to progress into meaningful employment including the University of Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Central Lancashire, Pearson, the Open University and more.
UCO is holding an Open Evening event on Wednesday, November 2 where learners can visit the University Way campus, view facilities and meet their expert lecturers and staff. Any interested can pre-register online now at uco.oldham.ac.uk or drop in any time between 4 and 7pm on that day.
* The UCO Graduation Ceremony took place on Friday, October 21, 2022.
** More information about UCO’s National Student Survey Results for 22 can be viewed using this link.
